Fountain comb



April 7, 1942..

A. w. wALLENlus FOUNTAIN 00MB Filed Feb. 8, 1941 INVENTOR Arf/zur Hf Wallefzz'w ATTORNE l scalp by means of Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FQUNTAIN COMB Arthur W. Wallenius, Glendale, Calif. Application'February 8, 1941, Serial No. 377,945

5 Claims.

to a fountain comb for the application of tonic or other fluids to This invention relates which can be employed materials such as oil, dye, the hair and scalp.

Fluids may be evenly applied to the hair and my invention without danger of soiling or staining clothes or hands.

The `invention consists of acomb which is provided with a hollow main rib communicating to a -fluid supply in the handle of the comb and to longitudinal grooves in the teeth for evenly dispensing the fluid to the hair or scalp.

Figure 1 is comb. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the comb and Figure 3 is a cross section through the main rib of the comb along the line --3 of Figure 2, showing the construction of the hollow rib, the spout of the liquid reservoir and the grooved teeth communicating with the fluid passageway of the main rib.

Referring more specifically to the drawing: I represents the main rib of the comb which is provided with solid teeth 2 which forman integral part of the main rib. The main rib is also provided with'the hollow passageway 6 for passage of fluid from the reservoir 4 through openings II to the longitudinal grooves 8 in the teeth. The main rib is also provided with a tight fitting joint I which serves as a means of connecting the handle 3 to the main rib I. This joint should be sufficiently tight to prevent liquid from leaking from the fluid passageway 1 to the outside of the comb. This joint may be either threaded or ground. Either form works satisfactorily.

The handle 3 is provided with an opening 9 to receive the flexible reservoir 4. Furthermore, the portion of thehandle forming the joint IIJ is hollow to permit the long neck of the reservoir to protrude to substantially the complete length of the passageway 1 of the hollow rib.

The reservoir 4 is made from any suitable flexible material such as rubber. This reservoir is provided, as described above, with a long neck or spout 5 which extends substantially the full length of the passageway 1. Sufficient room is provided, however, between the end of the spout 5 and the wall of the passageway 1 to permit ready Iiow of the uid from the spout into the passageway 1. This spout 5 is constructed in the form of a cone at I2, the juncture of the main rib and the handle, so that when in place the spout is in contact at this point with'the wall of the passageway 1 thereby preventing uid frpm passing into the handle 8. In other Words, the cone on the spout 5 at I2 forms a seal which prevents an isometric view of the fountainv y fluid from the reservoir fluid in space 1 from flowing back into the reservoir compartment of the handle.

The spout 5 also fills the major portion of the passageway 1 leaving only space between the two members for passage of to the teeth. This permits the use of a minimum amount of fluid to be used in the comb. In other words, by reducing the space between the spout 5 and the wall of passageway 1 to a minimum the comb can be made to operate satisfactorily with a very small amount of fluid forced intothis open space from the reservoir I.

The teeth 2, as explained above, are solid members forming a unit with the rib I. The'se teeth are provided with grooves 8, located on each face of the tooth. In other words, each tooth is provided with two grooves to receive the fluid from the passageway in the main rib. These grooves are directly opposite each other on two adjoining teeth. The drawing shows the teeth provided with the grooves 8 which terminate in the restricted passageway or tubes II communieating with fluid passageway 1. If desired the grooves 8 may be of uniform bore from the tip of the teeth to the fluid passageway 1 of the main rib. In other words, the grooves in the teeth may be formed by means of a drill which may also cut the passageway I I into the main rib. The prior art' shows hollowteeth attached to the main rib in such a manner that the fiuid from the main rib flows into the hollow of the teeth and then through holes in the walls of these teeth into a groove. This form is objectionable because each tooth must be separately constructed before being attached to the main rib. These hollow teeth are fragile unless made of metal, which would make the comb prohibitive from the standpoint of cost. Furthermore, openings from the side ofthe tooth prove unsatisfacvtory since uniform liquid distribution in the the passageway Il in grooves cannot be obtained. In other Words, that portion of the groove above the opening fails to receive fluid.

My comb eliminates these faults found inthe combs of the prior art. The grooves in the teeth and the openings in the main rib are made by one operation by simply removing the material form-v ing the groovesy and the opening to the fluid passageway with a drill. Forming the grooves 8 and this manner permits the main rib I of the comb and the teeth 2 to be made into a single piece or unit. By using this form of construction the comb may be entirely made from condensite, Bakelite, hard rubber or any of the a small clearancev reservoir l is removed from the handle 3 of the comb and by compressing the fluid reservoir most of the air is expelled therefrom through the opening 6 of spout 5. With mostof the air expelled from the fluid reservoir the spout 5 is immersed into the fluid desired to be applied to the' scalp or hair and by allowing the reservoir to regain its normal shape it is filled with liquid. The reservoir is then carefully placed back into handle 3 with the spout of the reservoir extending into the passageway T of the hollow rib I. When the reservoir and spout are in correct position in the comb the cone I2 on the spout seals the passageway 1 so that no fluid can flow back into the handle 3. The comb, filled with fluid is then grasped in the hand and the teeth are drawn through the hair in the same manner as one uses an ordinary comb. Pressure` is gently applied to the reservoir 4 and the fluid is forced,

out of the spout 5 into the longitudinal grooves 8 on to the hair or scalp. After sufficient fluid has been applied to the hair the reservoir is removed from the comb and the fluid remaining in the container is removed therefrom. If desired the comb may be taken apart at I0 to permit the main rib and teeth to be cleaned properly.

I claim:

1. A fountain comb comprising a main lrib provided with solid teeth forming an integral part of said main rib, a hollow fluid passageway within said main rib, means for supplying fluid.

to said passageway, longitudinal grooves provided on each opposing tooth face, said grooves communicating with the fluid passageway of the main I rib by means of an opening from the fluid passageway of -the main rib to the grooves on said teeth.

2. A fountain comb comprising a main rib provided with a fluid passageway and solid teeth forming an integral part ofthe comb, means for forcing fluid into said passageway, means for preventing fluid being forced into said passageway from leaking from said passageway, grooves provided on opposing faces of said teeth and communicating with the fluid passageway of said main rib.

3. A fountain comb comprising a main rib provided with a hollow fluid passageway and solid .teeth forming an integral part thereof, a removable fluid reservoir provided with a flexible spout extending substantially the full length of said fluid passageway, grooves running lengthwise on the opposite faces of said solid teeth and communicating by means of an opening in the wall of the main rib with said fluid passageway.

4. A fountain comb comprising a main rib provided with a fluid passageway and with solid teeth as an integral part thereof, a flexible fluid reservoir provided with a long flexible spout extending substantially the full length of said fluid passageway, means on said spout to -prevent fluid from leaking from the main opening into said fluid passageway, grooves provided on the opposite faces of the solid teeth and communicating with the fluid passageway by means of an opening in the main rib.

5. A fountain comb comprising a main rib provided with a fluid passageway open at one end of said rib and closed at the other end of said rib, solid teeth attached to said main rib as an integral part thereof, a' handle connected to said main rib and provided with a, hollow to receive a removable flexible fluid reservoir, a removable flexible fluid reservoir within said handle provided with a long flexible spout, extending substantially the full length of said fluid passageway, means on said spout to prevent flow of fluid from said fluid passageway to said hollow of the handle, grooves on the opposite faces vof the solid teeth in communication with said fluid passageway by means of openings in the main rib.

ARTHUR W. WALLENIUS. 

